Cheshire Constabulary has issued a robust and explosive statement defending its investigation into convicted baby murderer Lucy Letby, following sensational claims by a former Tory cabinet minister that officers ignored or broke rules during the case. The police force strongly refuted allegations made by MP Sir David Davis during a parliamentary debate, where he called for a retrial and accused detectives of "cherrypicking" statistics and overlooking failures in the neonatal unit where Letby worked.
Police Force Hits Back at 'Baseless Claims'
In a strongly-worded response, Cheshire Constabulary maintained it remains "confident in the integrity of the investigation" and condemned what it described as "attempts to destroy reputations" by a core group of individuals spreading misinformation. The statement emphasised that while scrutiny of policing is legitimate, it must be grounded in fact and not cut across due process or the independence of the judiciary.
The force expressed concern that constant criticism and inaccurate information being presented as fact risk undermining public confidence not only in this case but in the wider criminal justice system. They stressed that public confidence is best served by evidence-based discussion and responsible commentary, rather than ill-informed personal opinions.
MP's Allegations and Call for Review
Sir David Davis, the former Brexit Secretary, told fellow MPs during Thursday's House of Commons debate that he would write to the Director of Public Prosecutions to call for a review into the conduct of Cheshire Constabulary. He branded the case "one of the major injustices of modern times" and called for the release of various documents including investigators' policy books, decision books, and records of identified lines of inquiry.
The MP revealed that the case had been reviewed privately by ex-Assistant Chief Constable Dr Steve Watts and ex-Det Supt Stuart Clifton, who initially believed Letby guilty but after examining "the hard facts" now consider her the victim of a "serious miscarriage of justice." Davis claimed detectives ignored signs that the unit was failing and selectively used statistics against Letby.
Letby's Conviction and Ongoing Review
Lucy Letby, 36, from Hereford, is currently serving 15 whole-life orders after being convicted of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others between June 2015 and June 2016 while working as a nurse on the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital. Her conviction is being separately reviewed by the Criminal Cases Review Commission after judges rejected her bids to challenge her convictions.
The case gained renewed attention last month through a high-profile Netflix documentary that included footage of Letby being interviewed by detectives. During these interviews, she told officers she felt "it was all spiralling out of control" when questioned about the babies' murders. The documentary also revealed handwritten notes found in her home containing words like "Murderer," "I am evil," and "I killed them," which the prosecution claimed were confessions but her defence argued were therapeutic writings.
Police Commitment to Victims' Families
Cheshire Constabulary concluded their statement by reaffirming their commitment to victim-focused justice, public confidence, and the rule of law. They emphasised that their thoughts remain with the families of the babies, who have always been at the heart of this case. The force maintained that despite two years of constant criticism and intense scrutiny, they stand by their investigation and the decisions reached by the courts.
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between political scrutiny of high-profile criminal cases and police insistence on proper legal processes. As the CCRC continues its review of Letby's conviction, the debate over the investigation's integrity shows no signs of abating, with significant implications for public trust in both policing and the justice system.
